WGU—Who We Are

WGU’s mission is to change lives for the better by creating pathways to opportunity. That mission drives lasting impact for individuals and communities while strengthening the talent economy of tomorrow.   

Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors, the nonprofit was founded on the belief that talent is universal, but opportunity is not—and that education is a powerful catalyst for upward mobility and workforce resilience. Purpose-built as a tech-enabled, competency-based university, WGU expands access to affordable, high-quality education through workforce-aligned programs and pathways that deliver value for students, particularly those not well served by traditional higher education.   

By continually reimagining how education is designed, delivered, and accessed, WGU connects talent to opportunity and advances economic mobility for individuals and families. This model prepares learners for in-demand roles and supports a workforce equipped to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving economy.

one WGU Brand

Our brand is more than a logo. It’s how WGU shows up in the world—every message, experience and interaction shapes how we’re understood and ultimately, the impact we make.

For students, employees, partners, policymakers, employers, and communities, a clear and consistent brand builds trust, strengthens recognition, and tells a unified story.

As one university with one shared identity, we all play a role in representing WGU well.

Start here

When you create materials at WGU, you’re representing the university. This section is here to help you make the right decisions quickly so your work stays aligned with our shared brand.

Using a single, consistent brand builds recognition and trust. Variations (like team logos, modified logos, or non-logo owl images) fragment that identity and weaken it over time.

Before you create anything, keep these things in mind:

• Use only approved WGU logos. Do not modify, recreate, or stylize the logo in any way, including stacking the elements, using AI to represent the logo, or creating an alternate WGU logo.

• Do not use or create logos for teams, programs, or initiatives, even if they were approved in the past. Do not combine “WGU” with a department or program name to form a logo.

• Do not use non-logo owls as standalone graphics, illustrations, or design elements.

These standards apply to all materials including internal tools, presentations, merchandise, and AI-generated content.

Our Logos and Academic Seal 

Our visual identity reflects who we are today, including the students we serve. It includes a system of logos, each designed for a specific purpose. Using them correctly ensures we present a consistent and recognizable brand across the university.



Frequent Downloads

Email Signature Update Instructions 
Step-by-step guidance for updating your email signature. 

PowerPoint Template
The updated university slide template. 

Logo Downloads
Download the updated WGU, WGU Academy, WGU Labs, and Craft Educations logos.
Email brand@groups.wgu.edu to request academic seal.

Logo and Seal Guide 
Instructions on when and how to use each part of the visual identity. 

Artificial intelligence

AI-generated materials are subject to the same rules as all other materials. On this site, you can find guidelines on colors and typography as well as a wealth of other information you can share in your prompts to guide the AI—including context such as the font (Arial) and a list of official colors that will help you stay on brand.

Images of real people should never be uploaded to AI.

Do not ever use artificial intelligence with our logos, as it regularly distorts them. Instead, you can design your image while leaving a space for inserting the correct logo once the image is complete. Canva or another tool can be used to insert the logo exactly as provided. Steer clear of old logos (the ones on this site are the only approved logos), and do not use owl images that are not our official owl. These rules apply to both internal and external assets.

REpresenting your team

Teams should not create logos or visual identifiers.

We know teams want to show who they are and the work they do. That’s important, and there are ways to do it within the brand.

Instead of creating a logo:



• Use your department or team name in text (headlines, subheads, or headers)

• Use approved WGU templates and layouts

• Keep the WGU logo separate and unchanged

using the owl in designs and language

The owl is central to WGU’s identity, but its use must remain consistent and controlled. Incorrect owls weaken our overall brand.

Owl imagery

The official university logo and the standalone owl icon are the only approved owl graphics.

• Do not use other owl images, icons, clip art, or illustrations.

• Do not create or use AI-generated owls.

• Do not modify, redraw, or recreate the owl in any form.

These rules apply to all materials, internal and external.

Where the approved owl can appear

• As part of the official university logo
• Rarely, as the standalone icon in student-, alumni-, and employee-facing assets only (explicit Brand Governance approval required)

Owl wordplay

• Do not use owl puns or themed language (for example, a graduation email with the subject line “You’re Owl Done”).
  
  
• Do not create owl-themed names for programs, events, or initiatives (for example, a fundraiser called Give a Hoot).
  
  
• A handful of established names such as Night Owls and Owl’s Nest are approved exceptions. New exception requests require explicit Brand approval—assume the answer is no.

Contact Brand Governance

Email brand@groups.wgu.edu with questions.